Shaft clamping mechanism

Abstract

The shaft clamping mechanism clamps a cylindrical shaft such that it will not rotate in a housing. Using ordinary machine tools or the like, portions of the housing that surround the shaft are removed, leaving thin areas that act as hinges. The housing may not be cut all the way through so that the hinged or moving portion of the housing that exerts the clamping force is contiguous with the rest of the housing. Applying force in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, toward the shaft, in the middle of this hinged portion allows that part of the housing to move very slightly. The housing and shaft may be a close fit so that only a slight amount of movement of the moving part of the housing will be required to clamp the shaft. In order for this mechanism to work, the housing material has to flex slightly at the “hinges”. The stationary portions of the housing must also deflect very slightly.

1. A shaft clamping mechanism, comprising:
 a housing having a first opening for accepting a shaft and a second opening adjacent the first, defining a contiguous clamping portion of the housing; 
 at least two first hinge points formed as narrowed body portions connecting the clamping portion to the housing, each first hinge point formed by a slot extending from the first opening of the housing; and 
 at least one second hinge point formed as a narrowed portion of the clamping portion between the at least two first hinge points and on the same side of the first opening as the narrowed body portions of the at least two first hinge points, each second hinge point formed by a slot extending from the second opening; 
 wherein, when pressure is applied to the clamping portion by a force exerted from the second opening, the clamping portion of the housing hinges along the at least two first hinge points and at least one second hinge point to apply radial pressure to a shaft to clamp the housing to a shaft. 
 
   
   
     2. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein, when pressure is applied to the housing in at least the direction of the at least one slot extending from the second opening, a portion of the housing hinges along the at least two first hinge points to apply pressure to a shaft to clamp the housing to a shaft. 
   
   
     3. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is substantially circular in shape to form a collar for clamping on a shaft. 
   
   
     4. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the second opening is substantially arc shaped to conform to a shape of the first opening. 
   
   
     5. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is tapered to fit a tapered shaft. 
   
   
     6. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot comprises two slots formed in the second opening, and wherein when pressure is applied to the housing in the direction of the two slots, a portion of the housing hinges along the at least two hinge points to apply pressure to a shaft to clamp the housing to a shaft. 
   
   
     7. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein, when pressure is applied to the housing in at least the direction perpendicular to the at least one slot extended from the second opening, a portion of the housing hinges along the at least two hinge points to apply pressure to a shaft to clamp the housing to a shaft. 
   
   
     8. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tab formed in the second opening; and 
 a threaded hole, formed in the housing, for accepting a threaded member, 
 wherein the threaded member contacts the tab to compress the at least one slot such that a portion of the housing hinges along the at least two first hinge points to apply pressure to a shaft to clamp the housing to a shaft. 
 
   
   
     9. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the slots forming the at least two first hinge points are formed symmetrically in the first opening. 
   
   
     10. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two slots are formed asymmetrically in the first opening. 
   
   
     11. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the second opening is formed symmetrically in relation to the first opening. 
   
   
     12. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the second opening is formed asymmetrically in relation to the first opening. 
   
   
     13. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening includes at least one relieved portion to better constrain an out of tolerance shaft. 
   
   
     14. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the relieved portion includes at least one v-block shaped relieved portion to better constrain an out of tolerance shaft. 
   
   
     15. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the relieved portion includes at least double-arc-shaped relieved portion to better constrain an out of tolerance shaft. 
   
   
     16. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening includes at least one raised portion to better constrain an out of tolerance shaft. 
   
   
     17. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the second opening is substantially linear in shape and parallel to bent portions of two bent slots. 
   
   
     18. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is substantially round for accepting a round shaft. 
   
   
     19. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is one or more of square, rectangular, hexagonal, polygonal or irregular shape for accepting a shaft having a corresponding cross-section. 
   
   
     20. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a third opening opposite the second opening on an opposite side of the first opening for accepting a shaft, the third opening including another at least one second slot extending from the third opening. 
 
   
   
     21. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one circular opening formed in the second opening; and 
 at least one pin, corresponding to each at least one circular opening, wherein the at least one pin, when inserted into an at least one circular opening, prevents the shaft clamping mechanism from being forced open. 
 
   
   
     22. The shaft clamping mechanism of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one circular opening is tapered and the at least one pin forms a matching tapered slug, such that when a matching tapered slug is inserted into the at least one circular opening, pushing on the matching tapered slug applies pressure to the housing, and a portion of the housing hinges along the at least two first hinge points to apply pressure to a shaft to clamp the housing to a shaft.